Australia has chosen Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build its new $10 billion fleet of frontline frigates, beating Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in a contest that will shape the Royal Australian Navy for decades.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles is currently speaking to confirm the announcement, highlighting the importance of the decision for Australia’s defence capabilities and strategic partnerships.
“It’s a much bigger ship, which is able to operate with a much smaller crew. And that’s a reflection of how modern this ship is. It’s going to be really important in terms of giving our navy the capability to project,” he said.
“The Mogami Class has a range of 10,000 nautical miles, and that again compares to the Anzac Class frigates, which have a range of around 6,000 nautical miles. I want to emphasise that this decision is entirely based on the capability of the respective ships.
“This is a decision that is made about how we can get the best platform, the best capability, for the Royal Australian Navy. That said, having made the decision, this does represent a very significant moment in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan.”